By: Nick Marcinko -- July 10, 2024 Florida football is less than a month away from the start of fall camp, which means Gator Country will begin previewing the Gators’ 2024 roster that consists of 35 new scholarship players. I’ll start with the wide receivers, a position group I’m particularly excited about. Admittedly, I was concerned about the unit entering the offseason after Florida lost Ricky Pearsall to the first round of the NFL Draft, but the additions of transfer receivers Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger should provide the Gators with more stability and depth than they had in 2023. Fall Camp Preview: Breaking Down Florida’s Wide Receiver Room | GatorCountry.com
I doubt Kahleil Jackson is behind Marcus Burke... but that's just me. But that's a solid 3 deep receiving corps we have on paper. I wonder if we get any really nice surprises out of that bunch. Hawkins or Abrams need to be those speed demons we expect them to be.
Wilson about to be a Gators legend. And there should be plenty of production around him to allow him to shine.
I hope KJ does great, but he became a starter because of other bad options, not because of a breakout that showed him an SEC starter lock. He has several behind him in catches who are better athletes who just have not done the things that are necessary to play regularly. Bottom line is KJ is below 50% on receptions to targets for his career. Very bad. Pearsall was over 80% with a 2% drop rate, only behind Adonai Mitchell in the draft. His PFF on blocking is in the low 60s, so he doesn't make the field because of blocking either. He has done a great job for us in huge need last year, but we have to aim higher by younger guys developing. CBG has a difficult job in front of him, but he has done it in the past.
Kahleil Jackson is basically learning the receiver position in college.. He was a QB all his life before changing positions, so he's still learning and getting better every year. I think you might be underselling his skills too.
Jackson being a former QB should be a plus when he is on the field as a receiver. He may have enough smarts to be on the same page as Mertz as the play develops. That does not necessarily he will be targeted by Mertz. However, it should give him the incentive to sell his route (as a decoy) and perhaps get into position to make a block after the reception to another receiver.
Jackson is one of the slowest receivers on the team. I don't see much of a role for him with the two transfers and with Mizell and Jean continuing to develop. His dad wasn't very fast but the game was different back then.
